More than 20 people are being treated for coronavirus at hospitals in south and mid Essex.

The latest NHS data shows there are 24 patients with Covid-19 at hospitals in Basildon, Southend and Broomfield.

Of that number, four patients are being treated with ventilators.

The number of beds at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 has decreased by 51 per cent in the last four weeks.

It stood at 49 this time last month.

There has meanwhile been another two coronavirus deaths announced by the trust in the past week, taking the overall death toll to 2,383.

One of the deaths was announced on Friday and the other last Wednesday.

The weekly death and patient numbers at the trust are now largely similar to what they were back in early October.

Around two new Covid patients are being submitted to the three hospitals in mid and south Essex on a daily basis.

Basildon saw the highest number of new cases recorded in the region in the past week with 30.

There were 26 in Thurrock, 19 in Southend, 12 in Castle Point and only eight in Rochford.